Improvement in car-couplings



UNITED STATES PATENT Orrron.

NINIAN H. BEALL, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO CHARLES R. THOMPSON AND THOMAS B. HOBBS.

IMPROVEMENTIN @AR COUf-LINGS.

Specification formingpart of Letters Patent No. 158,017, dated December 22,1874; application filed April 18, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NINIAN H. BEALL, of Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain Improvements in Oar-Couplings, of which the following is a specification; and I do hereby declare that in the same is contained a full, clear, and exact description of my said invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to means, hereinafter fully described, by which the draw-head of a car-coupling may be made flexible or adjustable, in such manner as to adapt itself to be coupled with fixed or adjustable couplings differing from it in vertical position. v

In the further description of my invention which follows, due reference must be had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and in which Figure l is a view, partly in section, of a carcoupling embracing my improvements, with a portion of a car attached, connected to a fixed coupling of a greater elevation from the track. Fig. 2 is a plan of my invention, and Figs. 3 and 4. are views of detached portions of the invention.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts in all the figures.

A is a draw-head attached to the frame-work of the car, and allowed a slight longitudinal movement by means of the resiliency-of the spiral spring a, to prevent the jarring occasioned by the coupling operation from being transmitted to the car.- The draw-head is held in a horizontal position, when not in use, by means of the cross-head B and plate-springs 0 connected thereto. As the draw-head merely passes through the cross-head, and is not fast ened therein, no impediment is offered to the longitudinal movement before alluded to. The plate-springs. O are fastened at their inner ends to the brackets c on the car-frame, or bolted directly to the said frame, and at their outer ends secured to the cross-head B. The elasticity of the springs 0 allows the outer end of the draw-head to move vertically, or adjust itself in height, as the coupling-link projecting from the fixed draw-head strikes its inclined and recessed face as the cars are brought together to be coupled. D is the coupling-link, held by the bolts 01 to the drawheads. The link is provided with the projecting stops 0, which prevent the said link from being forced too far into either of the drawheads.

I make no claim to any peculiar construction of the draw-heads, or means of fastening the draw-heads to the car with a view of resisting longitudinal strain; but

What I do claim as my invention, and (lesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

In combination with the plate-sprin gs G, secured at their rear ends to the car-frame, the cross-head B and draw-head A, the cross-head admitting of a longitudinal movement of the draw-head therein, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 15th day of April, in the year of our Lord 1874.

NINIAN H. BEALL. Witnesses:

WM. '1. HOWARD, J NO. T. Mirnnox. 

